The Maybelline Story centers on the life of Maybelline Cosmetics founder Tom Lyle Williams, during their time in Kentucky, Chicago and Hollywood

 

The Maybelline family kids, 1934 .
  

Tom Lyle Williams wanted every woman to be able to afford Maybelline at a sensible price. The Maybelline Story captures the readers imagination while spinning through a century of history.

A fun look at the early days of Maybelline advertising and the people behind the name who either are softened by the years or are made more brittle by strife. The Maybelline story is an honest interpretation, a true story of how a brand has become so deeply integrated into society.

The Maybelline Story pulls off the difficult task of creating distinctive voices of Characters spread across the last century. A moving emotional memoir with a moral lesson to be learned at the end.

Maybelline Queen! Evelyn Williams - Oh What Price Glory!

 There was no one in the Maybelline family more invincible than Evelyn Williams...at least that's what she wanted us all to believe.

My grandmother Evelyn with my father William Preston Williams at Dundee Military School, Chicago, 1934 -1935

With the same voratious appetite Evelyn had for succeeding in all areas of her life, including playing the violin, mastering the stage as a ballerina and finally securing a position within the Maybelline family, she focused on her only child William Preston Williams Jr. (Bill.)  

Evelyn wasn't your ordinary sweet homemaker, though she did love her son as ferociously as a mother Lion loves her cub, however her main objective was to instill a mindset for survival in the boy and that meant creating an indisputable bond between Bill and his uncle Tom Lyle Williams. 

She succeeded, though not  without making herself unpopular with the rest of the Williams family.  Evelyn fought on the battlefield of life in her persuit to win at all costs and today I realize my remarkable grandmother, the original auntie Mame, was two generations ahead of her time. 

A tiny 5' 2" powerhouse with boundless energy,   Machavellian mental machinations and the ability to outsmart the smartest of wild cats, she had one desire.  To place her clan at the top of the heap no matter what the price -and Evelyn paid the highest price of all... with her life! 

Read more about Evelyn Williams incredible story and her ability to get what she wanted - while growing even more beautiful and glamorus as she aged in

The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.  

Nana was a diva in every respect and not only expected but demanded I follow in her footsteps. I wonder if she'd be pleased today with the fact I've dedicated my life to her memory and the family she loved so much. 

Maybelline's profits grow during the Great Depression because of Advertising a quality product

Top picture, Billy, Preston and Evelyn, with Tom Lyle. Bottom picture, Tom Lyle and his son Tom Jr. Right, Tom Lyle, founder of The Maybelline Company, with his 1934 Packard.

Tom Lyle, brilliantly used top actresses, to advertise Maybelline in film magazines, during the golden age of the 1930's.

One of Maybelline's most popular stars, Betty Grable, highlights the joys of beautifully made-up eyes.  Grable was part of the Hollywood Star System Tom Lyle helped create. 

Read more about Tom Lyle Williams, sensational advertising techniques, that helped make some of the biggest Hollywood stars, and Maybelline, a household word, in......  The Maybelline Story.

Come see me at my Hilarious 1964 High School Blog called Saffrons Rule at saffronsrule.com

Maybelline Vintage Fashion Diva, Evelyn Williams - WHAT PRICE HOLLYWOOD

My grandmother Evelyn with my father William Preston Williams at Dundee Military School, Chicago, 1934 - 1935

There was no one in the Maybelline family more 

invincible than Evelyn Williams...at least that's what she wanted us all to believe. 

With the same voratious appetite Evelyn had for succeeding in all areas of her life, including playing the violin, mastering the stage as a ballerina and finally securing a position within the Maybelline family, she focused on her only child William Preston Williams Jr. (Bill.)  

Evelyn wasn't your ordinary sweet homemaker, though she did love her son as ferociously as a mother Lion loves her cub, however her main objective was to instill a mindset for survival in the boy and that meant creating an indisputable bond between Bill and his uncle Tom Lyle Williams. 

She succeeded, though not  without making herself unpopular with the rest of the Williams family.  Evelyn fought on the battlefield of life in her pursuit to win at all costs and today I realize my remarkable grandmother, the original auntie Mame, was two generations ahead of her time. 

A tiny 5' 2" powerhouse with boundless energy, Machiavellian mental machinations and the ability to outsmart the smartest of wild cats, she had one desire.  To place her clan at the top of the heap no matter what the price and Evelyn paid the highest price of all... with her life!  

Read more about Evelyn Williams incredible story and her ability to get what she wanted - while growing even more beautiful and glamorous as she aged in 

The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.  

Nana was a diva in every respect and not only expected but demanded I follow in her footsteps. I wonder if she'd be pleased today with the fact I've dedicated my life to her memory and the family she loved so much. 

Born to be Car Guys!!!

I guess you'd have to say Bill Williams and his cousin, Bill Stroh, had a love for wheels, right from the get-go!

The two little cousins were the children of Evelyn Williams, and her sister Verona Stroh.

The two Bills grew up together in Chicago, and loved anything that they could push, ride or burn rubber in.

Best of buddy's, The young Bill's lived together during some rough times in the 1920's, when Evelyn and Preston were working out their differences. 

The boy's were practically twins.  Born a few weeks a part, handsome little chaps with truck loads of enthusiasm,

 especially for cars.

Even when Bill Williams moved away from Chicago, to California, Bill Stroh visited during the Summer months and their devotion for anything fast continued to grow.

Bill Williams in his first car.

Born to be Car Guys: 
To be Continued.

The Paige Detroit, right out of a Hollywood movie.

Paige, the most beautiful car in America!

Tom Lyle bought his first car in the Fall of 1916, customised the wheels and the back end of the car.

Tom Lyle with his family. in his new Paige Detroit, Chicago, 1917.

 Paige Detroit 1916 H2 6 - 38 Owner Manual Original.

Read more about Tom Lyle's first car and his love affair of beautiful automobiles, 

  in The Maybelline Story.  Purchase a signed copy from www.maybellinestory.com. 

Stay tuned tomorrow for my interview at the Desert Concours D' Elegance, in La Quinta California, when Alain Clenet, signed my father, Bill Williams, 13th edition, Series 1, 1977 Clenet. 

               You won't want to miss this!!!           

Maybelline Model? Not meant to be for me in 1966.

Maybelline switched gears in 1966 and focused on a more natural, softer teenage image.

                             Maybelline ad, 1966.

Nana, my dad Bill, me with dyed black hair and Unk Ile - Christmas at our house, 1965.  As Maybelline ads became softer and more natural, I screamed sexy and exotic.  Not good for an 18 year old as it turned out.

My grandmother  had convinced me to dress up for Christmas in a black cocktail dress, heals and of course my Chicken of the Sea hair-do.  When Unk Ile took one look at me he said, "My god, Sharrie, you look like your 35." 

Was that a good or bad thing?  I wasn't sure, but it wasn't what Maybelline was going for, targeting the teenage market in 1966.  In fact, Tom Lyle wanted just the opposite, soft, natural and sweet.  So my hopes of becoming the next teen Maybelline model were smashed. 

Nana watched me mope around a while, than said, "Sharrie, Darling, why don't you go back to Chicago next summer and stay with your aunts and uncles, meet your cousins and and get to know the Chicago branch of the family.
.

My spirits lifted and I was on my way.  Here I am, Queen of the super rollers, with my sister, Donna with pin straight surfer girl hair - happy to see me go for the summer, so she could drive my 57 Chevy to the beach everyday and surf.  I over packed for every occasion and was excited to take my first plane ride back to where it all began.

Exotic and over dressed for every ocassion in Chicago.

Nana encouraged me to take notes so I could document my trip in a long letter to Unk Ile when I got back.  I did, and those notes helped me write part of a book I'd  publish 45 years later, about my American, Dream Family.  When my house burned down in 1993 most of my pictures of the trip were lost.  However, one, the picture of auntie Eva and uncle Ches at their home on Mercer Lake survived.

uncle Ches and auntie Eva at their home on Mercer Lake.  It was here, as well as with Auntie Mabel and uncle Chet, Aunt Verona and Aunt Bunny, that the Maybelline Story, began to unfold.  A world gone by opened up with pictures, letters, and precious memories handed to me for safe keeping.  I began to piece together a family story like no other and though the result would take a lifetime, I finally made my dream come true in September of 2010, when The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It was published by Bettie Youngs Books.

Memories of Mabel and Chet on their Wedding Day,  Tom Lyle Williams, aka Unk Ile to us,  Maybelline eye shadow in the 1930's and an original Maybelline ad from 1925.

After two wonderful months of getting to know my aunts, uncles and cousins, I returned to California, (as you can see I don't look very happy about it.)  I wanted to stay in Chicago and start college, but my parents insisted I come home.  So here I am at the airport, with my mother, Pauline, My dad, Bill, Nana and little Preston and Billee.  I did keep a diary and wrote a 25 page letter to Unk Ile.  He was quite impressed with my writing and said, "Sharrie, you certainly have a way with words, I think you'd make a great copy writer, like Emery, someday." 

Read more about my trip to Chicago, and meet the amazing Williams family yourself in my book, The Maybelline Story.  I guarantee you, you won't be able to put it down, because you'll want to know, "OK,  what happened next!"

Maybelline family honors Noel A. for his duty in the Navy - 1945.

In Memory of Noel Allen Williams for his service to his Country during WW11.

Born and raised in Chicago, the son of Maybelline Vice President Noel J. Williams, Noel A. Williams grew up in a sheltered world of comfort, stability and opportunity.  He and my father, Bill Williams were close first-cousins their entire life and when Bill moved to California with his mother Evelyn in 1936 to be near Tom Lyle, it was just a matter of time before Noel A. would follow.

Noel joined the Navy, left Chicago and headed to Southern California where he was stationed in San Diego, close enough to visit his uncle Tom Lyle at the Villa Valentino and Bill of Course.

Noel A. at the Villa Valentino with his uncle Tom Lyle Williams and TL's private Secretary Dorothy Mullander.

Here is a picture of my father Bill in civilian clothes on the left standing next to Dorothy Mullander, Maybelline's executive secretary with Noel A. in his Navy uniform at Tom Lyle's Villa Valentino in the Hollywood Hills.

Noel J. visits California to say goodbye to his 18 year old son before he ships overseas.  Dad looks forward to Noel A. returning home safely, going College and taking a position in the Maybelline Company. 

"Not so fast dad," as Noel A. has other plans which might include a girl he's leaving behind and maybe moving to California.  But for now status-quo is the word.

The girl he leaves behind is his 17 year old childhood sweetheart, Jean Kilroy. 

While Noel A. is overseas his uncle Tom Lyle creates this beautiful Maybelline advertisement targeting young women like Jean who are waiting for their men to return.  Noel A. does return home but not before being wounded by shrapnel on his thigh.  He was one of the lucky ones. 





Noel A. Williams 1925 -1994.

If you'd like to know more about Noel A. and why he gave

 up an opportunity to take over his father's position

in the Maybelline Company - for a life in California - pick up your copy of The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It and walk through the 20Th Century with the family who put the first

 eye beautifier on the market in 1915 to 1967. 

Thank you for following The Maybelline Blog and be sure to tell your friends!!!       

PS: Noel Allen Willliams is Chuck, Nancy and Jim Williams father.                                                                                                          

Maybelline family Veteran William Preston Williams, WW1.

This Memorial Day marked the 5TH anniversary of my father's death and brought to mind the War Heroes in the Maybelline Family.  Here are a few pictures of my grandfather Williams Preston Williams as he prepared to leave his home and family and fight for our Country during World War l.

This is what Chicago looked like when my grandfather William Preston Williams joined the Navy in 1917.  He was just 18 years old with visions of being a War Hero.  Like so many boy's from the Lost Generation he imagined the war would quickly end and he'd return unscathed by the ravages of battle - only to be greatly disillusioned with a broken spirit.

This is what was going on in the Maybelline Family at the same time.  Tom Lyle introduced Maybelline to the public as Silent Film became popular and Silent Film Stars were seen on screen with heavily made up eyes.

Theda Bara "THE VAMP" - 1917.  This is what was going on in Hollywood when WW1 broke out.  Women began to be conscious of the their eyes and buy Maybelline.  An interesting fact -  Maybelline was sent in an unmarked package insuring the buyer her privacy since Maybelline was so frowned upon at the time.

1917 Maybelline became available through mail order. 

Screen from the Silent Film WINGS.  This is what Preston was heading into.  He was a rear gunner on one of those Flying Sticks in the sky.




Preston with his parents Susan and TJ.  His mother was grief stricken after already losing her first son, Pearl to TB and the thought of losing another son to War was too much for her.  TJ on the other hand was proud his son was fighting for his Country like so many Patriots that went before him in the Williams Family.  He also thought the Navy might straighten his wild card son up a bit. 
                                                                               

Preston was leaving his family to go fight the enemy, an enemy he and so many young American boys thought would be easy to destroy.  It was far from easy, and Preston came home with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, never to be the same again.  Here he is with his little sister Eva on the left, Frances Allen, Tom Lyle Williams Noel James Williams and Bennie Gibbs.

Mabel Williams on the left with her brother Preston, Helen, one of the first Maybelline models, Frances Allen Williams, Bennie Gibbs and Tom Lyle Williams in front of his new "PAGE "Convertible in Chicago. 

Tom Lyle enlisted as well but was denyed service because he was the sole supporter of his entire family according to his draft card in 1917.  Noel was married to Frances and also supported the family managing the Maybelline Company. He might have been too old for service at the time. 

 If you have read The Maybelline Story these pictures will enhance the visual for you.  If you haven't purchased a signed copy yet just click on maybellinestory.com and one will be mailed to you directly.  I will continue with WWll Maybelline family Veterans tomorrow.  Stay tune for more wonderful pictures and stories.